Golf club stand arrangement

ABSTRACT

A stand arrangement for a golf club having a club head and club shaft may include a plunger rod movably secured within the club shaft and displaceable between a retracted position entirely within the club shaft and an extended position. In the extended position, at least a portion of the plunger rod extends from a channel in the club shaft to an exterior of the golf club. The stand arrangement may further include an actuation sleeve extending around a periphery of the club shaft and a connecting member extending through a wall of the club shaft and coupling the actuation sleeve with the plunger rod. The actuation sleeve may be selectively actuatable to secure the plunger rod in both the retracted position and the extended position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/295,045, having a filing date of Nov. 12, 2011, which ishereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a stand arrangement for a golf cluband, more particularly, to a retractable plunger rod in the golf clubshaft insertable into the ground for supporting a golf club in astanding position.

BACKGROUND

When playing golf, golfers are not typically permitted to drive golfcarts near a putting green. Walking golfers are not permitted to lay orstand their golf bags on a putting green. Further, golfers arefrequently required to keep golf carts on cart paths during variousweather conditions. Thus, in order to expedite play by avoiding multipletrips back-and-forth to one's golf bag, it is quite common for a golferto remove multiple clubs from a golf bag for executing a next stroke orseries of strokes. For example, if a golfer's ball is close but notquite on the putting surface, the golfer may carry to the puttingsurface area a chipping club such as a wedge or the like for getting theball on the putting surface and a putter to complete the hole after theball is on the putting surface. As another example, if a golfer is notsure of his lie from the location of his/her golf bag, the golfer maycarry a variety of clubs to the ball location before making a final clubselection. For an average golfer, this is a regular occurrence during acourse of a round.

Since the golfer is carrying multiple clubs, when it is time to executethe next stroke, the golfer typically places the unused club(s) on theground. There are drawbacks to this situation particularly if the groundis wet from morning dew or rain or if the player has difficulty bendingover to pick up the club or clubs on the ground. It is desirable tomaintain dry club grips to avoid slipping and to prevent damage to thegrip. Additionally, golfers with joint or back problems or the like mayfind it difficult or uncomfortable to repeatedly retrieve a golf club(s)from the ground.

Several others have disclosed a stand assembly for a golf club that canenable the golf club to stand in an upright position when not in use.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,595 (Hodson) and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2010/0137070 (Home) disclose assemblies forstanding a golf club in an upright position. However, Hodson provides anactuation assembly in the middle of the club's grip. Since a golfer'sgrip is one of the most important elements of a golf stroke, it isundesirable to provide an actuation assembly that affects the grip.Horne provides an actuation assembly that extends from the grip end ofthe club when unactuated and is urged into the grip when actuated. Thus,since golf clubs are typically stored in a golf bag by placing the gripend into the bag, the prop rod spike may be undesirably exposed from theclub head each time the club is placed into the bag, thus presenting adangerous situation.

It may therefore be desirable for such a device to be incorporated intothe club itself and to be easily extractable and retractable withoutaffecting the grip and/or functionality of the club. It may also bedesirable to provide such a device that minimizes the effect on theclub's aesthetics.

SUMMARY

According to various aspects of the disclosure, a stand arrangement fora golf club having a club head and club shaft may include a plunger rodmovably secured within the club shaft and displaceable between aretracted position entirely within the club shaft and an extendedposition. In the extended position, at least a portion of the plungerrod extends from a channel in the club shaft to an exterior of the golfclub. The stand arrangement may further include an actuation sleeveextending around a periphery of the club shaft and a connecting memberextending through a wall of the club shaft and coupling the actuationsleeve with the plunger rod. The actuation sleeve may be selectivelyactuatable to secure the plunger rod in both the retracted position andthe extended position.

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a golf club mayinclude a club head adapted to strike a golf ball and a club shaftextending upwardly from the club head and having a gripping portionadapted to be gripped by the golfer. The club shaft is tubular, tapered,and continuously hollow from the club head to and into the grippingportion of the club. The golf club may include a plunger rod movablysecured within the club shaft and displaceable between a retractedposition entirely within the club shaft and an extended position. In theextended position, at least a portion of the plunger rod extends from achannel in the club shaft to an exterior of the golf club. The golf clubmay further include an actuation sleeve configured to be disposed aboutthe club shaft and a connecting member extending through a wall of theclub shaft and coupling the actuation sleeve with the plunger rod. Theactuation sleeve may be selectively actuatable to secure the plunger rodin both the retracted position and the extended position.

Further exemplary embodiments and advantages may be evident from theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of an exemplary stand arrangement with theplunger rod in a retracted position in accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stand arrangement shown in FIG. 1with the plunger rod in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary actuation arrangement of thestand arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the actuation arrangementshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of an exemplary stand arrangement with theplunger rod in a retracted position in accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective and bottom views, respectively, of thestand arrangement shown in FIG. 5 with the rod in an extended position;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of an exemplary stand arrangement with theplunger rod in a retracted position in accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of an exemplary ring for use with the actuationarrangement of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross sectional views of an exemplary golf club standarrangement in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stand arrangement 100 is integrated with thegolf club via a club shaft 102 and a club head 104 secured to the clubshaft 102. A golf club can be provided with the stand arrangement 100upon manufacture and assembly, or a conventional golf club can beretrofitted with the stand arrangement 100. The shaft 102 is typicallyhollow, and a channel 106 is formed in the club head 104, which togetherwith the hollow club shaft 102 defines a rod channel 108.

The stand arrangement 100 includes a plunger rod 110 positionable withinthe club shaft 102 and club head 104 and displaceable between aretracted position (FIG. 1), in which the plunger rod 110 is preferablydisposed completely within the golf club, and an extended position (FIG.2), in which at least a first end portion 112 of the plunger rod 110 isextended to an exterior of the golf club. The plunger rod 110 maycomprise, for example, titanium or any other material that provides thedesired strength, stiffness, durability, and other properties (e.g.,rust-proof). The first end portion 112 of the plunger rod 110 mayinclude a tapered or pointed end 114 so as to facilitate insertion intothe ground when in the extended position. The stand arrangement 100 alsoincludes an actuation arrangement 120 coupled with the plunger rod 110and operable to move the plunger rod 110 between the retracted positionand the extended position. The actuation arrangement is between a gripportion 105 of the golf club and the club head 104.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the actuation arrangement 120 inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, theactuation arrangement 120 includes an actuation sleeve 122 disposedabout the club shaft 102. The sleeve is slidable and rotatable relativeto the club shaft 102 to move the plunger rod 110 between and to securethe plunger rod 110 in the retracted position or the extended position.Movement of the actuation sleeve 122 is guided and restricted by a slot124, for example, a J-slot, in the club shaft 102, as will be more fullydescribed below. The actuation sleeve 122 may additionally include avibration dampener (not shown) at the end of the sleeve 122 nearest thefirst end portion 112. The vibration dampener is positioned about theclub shaft 102 and inside the sleeve 122 to prevent the sleeve 122 fromrattling on the club shaft in the retracted and extended positions. Thevibration dampener may comprise, for example, a rubber washer.

Proximal to the first end portion 112 of the plunger rod 110, theactuation arrangement includes a first ring 126 about the rod 110 andinternal to the club shaft 102. The first ring 126 is fixedly coupled tothe club shaft 102, for example, by adhering the first ring 126 to aninside surface of the shaft 102, for example, with an epoxy. The plungerrod 110 is slidable relative to the first ring 126. Spaced from thefirst ring 126 in a direction away from the first end portion 112 of theplunger rod 110 is a second ring 128 about the rod 110 and internal tothe club shaft 102. The second ring 128 is affixed to the plunger rod110 and the actuation sleeve 122 by a connecting member 130 extendingthrough the J-slot 124 and through a hole 131 in the second ring 128 andinto the second ring 128. Thus, movement of the actuation sleeve 122moves the second ring 128 and the plunger rod 110 in a likewise fashion.

Spaced from the second ring 128 in a direction away from the first endportion 112 of the plunger rod 110 is a third ring 132 about the rod 110and internal to the club shaft 102. The third ring 132 is fixedlycoupled to the club shaft 102, for example, by a pin 134 that extendsthrough a hole 135 in the club shaft 102 and into a hole 133 in thethird ring 132. Thus, the plunger rod 110 is slidable relative to thethird ring 132. Spaced from the third ring 132 in a direction away fromthe first end portion 112 of the plunger rod 110 is a fourth ring 136about the rod 110 and internal to the club shaft 102. The fourth ring136 is affixed to the plunger rod 110 by a pin 138 extending through ahole in the fourth ring 136 and into the plunger rod 110. Thus, movementof the plunger rod 110 moves the fourth ring 136 in a likewise fashion.

The actuation arrangement 120 includes a spring 140, for example, ahelical compression spring, about the plunger rod 110 and internal tothe club shaft 102. The spring 140 is disposed between the third ring132 and the fourth ring 136. In the retracted position of the plungerrod 110 (FIG. 1), the spring 140 is under nominal compression, forexample, sufficient compression such that the spring 140 issubstantially stationary. The actuation arrangement 120 may furtherinclude dampening member 142 such as, for example, an O-ring, disposedbetween the second ring 128 and the third ring 132. According to variousaspects, the dampening member 142 may fit snugly about the plunger rod110 so as not to slide freely thereon. The dampening member 132 may beplaced tightly against the second ring 128 so as to cushion impact bythe third ring 132. The O-ring may comprise, for example, a rubbermaterial. The first, second, third, and fourth rings 126, 128, 132, 136may comprise, for example, aluminium.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in some aspects, the second ring 128 mayinclude a guide 150 affixed to a side of the second ring 128 and plungerrod 110 facing the J-slot 124. The guide 150 includes a first portion154 nearest the second ring 128 in a radial direction. The first portion154 is sized and arranged so as to fit within the J-slot 124. Forexample, the thickness of the first portion 154 both radially andtangentially to the radial direction is selected to fit within theJ-slot 124 so as to be guided in motion by the J-slot 124. The guide 150may also include a second portion 156 disposed radially outward relativeto the first portion 154. As shown, the second portion 156 is enlargedrelative to the first portion 154 in a dimension tangential to theradial direction. As such, when the plunger rod 110, club shaft 102, andsleeve 122 are assembled, the second portion 156 is disposed radiallyoutward of the club shaft 102 (e.g., between the club shaft 102 and thesleeve 122), and the first portion 154 extends through the J-slot 124 inthe club shaft 102 and is affixed, for example, by welding to the secondring 128 and plunger rod 110. A connecting member 130, such as forexample, a pin or a screw, may extend through a hole 152 in the sleeve122 and into a hole 158 in the guide 150 to couple the sleeve 122 to theguide 150 and plunger rod 110.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the channel 106 formed in the club head 104is narrower than an inside diameter of the club shaft 102. Preferably,the channel 106 is only slightly larger than a width or diameter of theplunger rod 110. The arrangement may include additional internalcomponents to increase the stability of the plunger rod and toaccommodate varying club shaft internal diameters. For example, a sleeveor piece of tubing may be interposed between the plunger rod and theclub shaft to effectively narrow the internal diameter of the club shaftrelative to the plunger rod. In this manner, the plunger rod can bettermaintain a vertical attitude relative to the club shaft and avoidgetting caught up in the rod channel. These components may help to keepthe plunger rod centered in the rod channel.

In use, when it is desired to extend the plunger rod 110 from theretracted position to the extended position, the user slides theactuation sleeve 122 along the J-slot 124 as far as possible in thedirection of the club head 104. This sliding of the actuation sleeve 122causes the fourth ring 136 to further compress the spring 140 againstthe fixed third ring 132. After reaching the end 125 of the J-slot 124closest to the club head 104, the user rotates the actuation sleeve 122in a first direction, for example, counter-clockwise, as guided by theJ-slot 124, and then releases the actuation sleeve 122, thereby allowingthe spring 140 to urge the fourth ring 136 away from the third ring 132.The tension of the spring 140 then maintains the plunger rod 110 in theextended position, as shown in FIG. 2.

To retract the extended plunger rod 110, the user slides the actuationsleeve 122 as far as possible in the direction of the club head 104 and,after reaching the end 125 of the J-slot 124 closest to the club head104, the user rotates the actuation sleeve 122 in a second directionopposite to the first direction, for example, clockwise, as guided bythe J-slot 124. The user then releases the actuation sleeve 122, therebyallowing the spring 140 to urge the fourth ring 136 away from the thirdring 132. The tension of the spring 140 then returns the plunger rod 110to the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary golf club standarrangement in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. Thestand arrangement 500 is integrated with the golf club via a club shaft502 and a club head 504 secured to the club shaft 502. A golf club canbe provided with the stand arrangement 500 upon manufacture andassembly, or a conventional golf club can be retrofitted with the standarrangement 500. The shaft 502 is typically hollow, thereby defining arod channel 508. Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the club head 504 and theclub shaft 502 may be connected by an offset hosel 503, as would beunderstood by persons skilled in the art. As illustrated by FIG. 6B, asa result of the offset hosel 503, the club head 504 is not aligned withthe club shaft 502.

The stand arrangement 500 includes a plunger rod 510 positionable withinthe club shaft 502 and displaceable between a retracted position (FIG.5), in which the plunger rod 510 is preferably disposed completelywithin the golf club shaft 502, and an extended position (FIG. 6A), inwhich at least a first end portion 512 of the plunger rod 510 isextended to an exterior of the golf club. The plunger rod 510 maycomprise, for example, a solid or hollow titanium rod or any othermaterial that provides the desired strength, stiffness, durability, andother properties (e.g., rust-proof). The first end portion 512 of theplunger rod 510 may include a tapered or pointed end 514 so as tofacilitate insertion into the ground when in the extended position. Asshown in FIG. 6A, when in the extended position, the plunger rod 510does not extend through the club head 504, but instead the end 54 of theplunger rod 510 extends from the club shaft 502 and past the club head504 to a position where the end 514 extends beyond a distalmost surfaceof the club head 504 relative to the club shaft 502. The standarrangement 500 also includes an actuation arrangement 520 coupled withthe plunger rod 510 and operable to move the plunger rod 510 between theretracted position and the extended position. The actuation arrangementis between a grip portion 505 of the golf club and the club head 504.

The actuation arrangement 520 includes an actuation sleeve 522 disposedabout the club shaft 502. The sleeve 522 may be tapered to match theclub shaft 502, which may be any conventional golf club shaft,preferably a putter shaft. The sleeve 522 is slidable and rotatablerelative to the club shaft 502 to move the plunger rod 510 between andto secure the plunger rod 510 in the retracted position and the extendedposition. Movement of the actuation sleeve 522 is guided and restrictedby a slot 524, for example, a J-slot (see, e.g., FIG. 3), in the clubshaft 502, as will be more fully described below.

The actuation arrangement includes a ring 528, for example, a bushing(see, e.g., FIG. 8), about the rod 510 and internal to the club shaft502. The ring 528 is fixedly coupled concentric to the rod 510, forexample, by welding the first ring 528 to a surface of the rod 510, byadhering the ring 528 to the rod 510, for example, with an epoxy, or byany other conventional attachment arrangement that can be used to securetwo parts, for example, two metal parts, together. The plunger rod 510is slidable together with the ring 528. The ring 528 is affixed to theactuation sleeve 522 by a connecting member 530, for example, a bolt, apin, or the like, extending through the J-slot 524 and through aradially-extending hole 531 in the ring 528. Thus, movement of theactuation sleeve 522 moves the ring 528 and the plunger rod 510 in alikewise fashion. In some embodiments, to prevent the club shaft 502from collapsing onto the plunger rod 510 by overtightening theconnection member 530, a separate bushing 532 may be placed and alignedorthogonally relative to the plunger rod 510 between the ring 528 and ahead of the connecting member 530. The ring 528 may include acountersunk radially-extending bore 533 for receiving a portion of thebushing 532.

The actuation arrangement 520 includes a spring 540, for example, ahelical compression spring, about the plunger rod 510 and internal tothe club shaft 502. The spring 540 is disposed between the ring 528 andan end bushing 544, which is secured to an interior of the club shaft502. In some aspects, the end bushing 544 may have a threaded exteriorsurface to facilitate the use of epoxy to secure the end bushing 544 tothe club shaft 502. The plunger rod 510 is slidable relative to the endbushing 544 via a throughhole that extends axially through the bushing544. The bushing 544 can be sized to allow minimal movement between theplunger rod 510 and the bushing 544. In the retracted position of theplunger rod 510 (FIG. 5), the spring 540 is under nominal compression,for example, sufficient compression such that the spring 540 issubstantially stationary.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the stand arrangement 500 may include awasher 570, for example, a felt washer, nylon washer, or the like at asecond end 516 of the plunger rod 510 opposite to the first end 512. Thewasher 570 can be sized to leave only a nominal clearance between aperiphery of the washer 570 and the club shaft 502 to prevent undesiredmovement of the plunger rod 510 relative to the club shaft 502. Thewasher 570 can be secured in place at the second end 516 by a pair ofwashers 572 and a pair of nuts 574, 576. Nut 576 can be a lock nut, forexample, in order to prevent loosening of the nuts and washers.

In use, similar to that described above relative to FIGS. 1-4, when itis desired to extend the plunger rod 510 from the retracted position tothe extended position, the user slides the actuation sleeve 522 alongthe J-slot 524 as far as possible in the direction of the club head 504.This sliding of the actuation sleeve 522 causes the ring 528 to furthercompress the spring 540 against the fixed end bushing 544. Afterreaching the end 525 of the J-slot 524 closest to the club head 504, theuser rotates the actuation sleeve 522 in a first direction, for example,counter-clockwise, as guided by the J-slot 524, and then releases theactuation sleeve 522, thereby allowing the spring 540 to urge the ring528 away from the end bushing 544. The tension of the spring 540 thenmaintains the plunger rod 510 in the extended position, as shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B.

To retract the extended plunger rod 510, the user slides the actuationsleeve 522 as far as possible in the direction of the club head 504 and,after reaching the end 525 of the J-slot 524 closest to the club head504, the user rotates the actuation sleeve 522 in a second directionopposite to the first direction, for example, clockwise, as guided bythe J-slot 524. The user then releases the actuation sleeve 522, therebyallowing the spring 540 to urge the ring 528 away from the end bushing544. The tension of the spring 540 then returns the plunger rod 510 tothe retracted position, as shown in FIG. 5.

With the integrated stand arrangement according to the describedembodiments, a golf club can stand in an upright position when not inuse. Additionally, the stand mechanism is easily extendable andretractable without affecting the grip and functionality of the club.Further, the stand arrangement only minimally alters the club'saesthetics.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the golf club standarrangement and method of the present disclosure without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Throughout the disclosure, use of the terms“a,” “an,” and “the” may include one or more of the elements to whichthey refer. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practiceof the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specificationand examples be considered as exemplary only.

1. A stand arrangement for a golf club including a club shaft and a clubhead, the stand arrangement comprising: a plunger rod movably securedwithin the club shaft and displaceable between a retracted positionentirely within the club shaft and an extended position, wherein in theextended position, at least a portion of the plunger rod extends from achannel in the club shaft to an exterior of the golf club; an actuationsleeve extending around a periphery of the club shaft; and a connectingmember extending through a wall of the club shaft and coupling theactuation sleeve with the plunger rod, the actuation sleeve beingselectively actuatable to secure the plunger rod in both the retractedposition and the extended position.
 2. The stand arrangement of claim 1,wherein, in the extended position, the plunger rod extends from theactuation sleeve and beyond a surface of the club head that isdistalmost relative to the club shaft.
 3. A golf club, comprising: aclub head adapted to strike a golf ball; a club shaft extending upwardlyfrom the club head and having a gripping portion adapted to be grippedby the golfer, the club shaft being tubular, flared, and continuouslyhollow from the club head to and into the gripping portion of the clubshaft; a plunger rod movably secured within the club shaft anddisplaceable between a retracted position entirely within the club headand an extended position, wherein in the extended position, at least aportion of the plunger rod extends from a channel in the club shaft toan exterior of the golf club; an actuation sleeve extending around aperiphery of the club shaft; and a connecting member extending through awall of the club shaft and coupling the actuation sleeve with theplunger rod, the actuation sleeve being selectively actuatable to securethe plunger rod in both the retracted position and the extendedposition.
 4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein, in the extendedposition, the plunger rod extends from the actuation sleeve and beyond asurface of the club head that is distalmost relative to the club shaft.